Street Beggars Dump Begging, Join Ogun Para-Powerlifting Team

By ABIODUN JIMOH, ABEOKUTA
Ogun State Para-Powerlifting Association has already reaping the reward of organising and hosting the 1st South-West Para-Powerlifting Developmental Championship (SPDC), in Ijebu-Ode as two young talents have been discovered.
These future stars, Tahiru Adamu, 20 years, weighing 59kg, and Aminu Abdullahi, 18 years, weighing 65kg alongside three others were said to have walked into the Ogun State Sports Council, in Abeokuta willingly, having sighted  the banner for the championship two weeks ago along the road.
The championship is being powered by the state government, who provided the necessary tools and logistics. Also, it was supported by ValuJet, through the Ogun State Para-Powerlifting Association, grand patron, Prince Kunle Soname, whose contributions are unquantifiable.
The comprehensive theme of the programme ‘Using sport to eliminate street begging’ was the needed tonic and motivational message that drew the attention of these former street beggars away from the streets and thus decided to start a new life through sports.
Moreover, out of these five ex-beggars who wanted to experience a new lease of lives, three could not withstand the rigours as they left, but the duo of Adamu and Abdullahi could see brighter future in their new endeavours to break into limelight, even as the championship was still under planning by the organisers.
Thereafter, favour smiles on their faces as they were presented to about a hundred powerlifters, who came across the South-West States to take part at the developmental championship after it was declared open by the governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun at the Otunba Dipo Dina international stadium, Ijebu Ode on Monday.
Unknown Adamu and Abdullahi were presented to demonstrate what they have learnt in the last two weeks to the admiration of the governor, ably represented by the director of sports at the state sports council, Sola Faleti, and  the technical director of Nigeria Para-Powerlifting Federation, Joy Mayaki and host of others.
Their performances witnessed by older powerlifters were attested to by other athletes and officials to be future stars if well nurtured by the state. Since they could exhibited such brilliant skills within two weeks of dumping their former trade for sports.
Speaking on the development, both the state para-powerlifting association chairman, Deacon Gbolahan Eweje, and state coach, Oluwakemi Oyebola expressed confidence that the two new discoveries would be properly monitored and ensure that they did not regret being part of the athletes under their watch.
Eweje, who also doubles as the 2nd Vice President of the Nigeria Para-Powerlifting Federation remarked that the competition was envisioned by the association to develop the game of para-powerlifting across the South-West State, so as to become the bedrock of the sports in the country, and to become a sought after states for national team.
Oyebola, who also is the national coach of  the federation assured that all the necessary support would be given to nurture them into national and global reckoning. Adding that they would sort out how to motivate them in their new found love sports.
In her own admonition, the technical director, Mayaki  urges the state to ensure that these newly discovered talents were given adequate attention and training, believing that in the nearest future, Ogun State would start to benefit from the dividends of organising and hosting the developmental championship, being  the first in the history of South-West States.